Photo: Ron Soliman
The Union returned home after a brutal week on the road looking to get back to winning ways and maintain their position at the top of the Shield race. In the Player Ratings for the Vancouver match I wrote that “[a]nything short of a win on Tuesday and Saturday will have me questioning whether he [Head Coach Bradley Carnell] should return next year.” Well, they lost Tuesday, and after Miami’s and Vancouver’s results, they no longer control their own destiny for the Shield. But Carnell stemmed the bleeding. The Revs were looking to impress a new, interim head coach (at least until Jim Curtin lands up north?) and could very well have had a “dead cat bounce” as fellow PSP writer Ryan Sedwick wrote in his preview. But Carnell did enough with the lineup (with Olwethu Makhanya still suspended, and Jovan Lukić joining him) and the Boys in Blue did enough on the pitch to escape with a win.
Player Ratings
GK Andre Blake – 6
It was reassuring to have Blake back between the posts, though Andrew Rick could hardly be faulted for the prior two losses. Blake dealt with crosses and corners as needed and kept his box clear. Made one mistake when he lost his footing, either because of the sun or he just stumbled, and wound up on the ground, but the Revs shot wide into the side netting. Made up for the stumble with a big save (his one in the game) that kept the 1-nil scoreline intact.
LB Kai Wagner – 7
Kai Wagner returned at left back and created the most scoring chances in the game (4). Defensively a stalwart, as usual, he also had a decent night putting crosses into the box and getting the ball up field.
CB Jakob Glesnes – 6
Glesnes was able to stay in position and rewarded his goalkeeper, coach, and the rest of the back line with a solid performance.
CB Nate Harriel – 8
I wrote this last week: “I think Harriel has, in the past, filled in at center back and done so admirably. His 30+ minutes at CB after Makhanya’s red card in Cincinnati were terrific. But Harriel is not a CB. Harriel did not play well in Vancouver. He was beaten in the air on the first goal.” Harriel redeemed himself with the best defensive showing on the night from a Union player (actually, from either team). Won a huge tackle when he was the last man back, had thirteen clearances, an interception, and nine recoveries. Offensively, he had five passes into the final third. In total, created one scoring chance on the night and made ten defensive contributions that ended scoring chances for the Revs.
RB Frankie Westfield – 8
A very good night for Westfield before the Union lose him for the remainder of the season. Won all the tackles he challenged for; had seven clearances and three interceptions. More impressively, he got up field when needed without sacrificing defense. Finally, his pass to Milan Iloski was weighted perfectly, and led to the Union goal. Without Westfield playing Iloski into the box, that goal does not happen.
DM Jesus Bueno – 6
A better afternoon for Bueno than his previous outing. Granted, he was partnered with Danley Jean Jacques, and it was the Revolution, but Bueno had a good enough game.
DM Danley Jean Jacques – 6
A quieter game from Danley than we’ve come to expect. Not a poor game by any stretch of the imagination, but not a domineering performance either. Subbed off after 60 minutes for Iloski, who made an immediate impact.
AM Indiana Vassilev– 5
He hustled a lot. He also had a decent night passing, but all the hustle and passing led to only one shot and one chance being created. His one shot on goal was right at Matt Turner.
AM Quinn Sullivan – 7
Sullivan also hustles and presses well. Defensively he was a monster, winning every tackle, making five recoveries, and challenging for sixteen duels (winning half). He had four passes into the final third; unfortunately, his crosses were not accurate. That said, he dribbled and harassed the Revs, and nearly scored, only for Turner to tip his well-struck shot over the bar.
FWD Bruno Damiani – 7
Damiani had one of his better games, statistically, passing accurately and creating some chances. He also lost the most duels of any player. But most importantly for a striker, he scored when he needed to. Set up perfectly by Westfield and Iloski, he had to score and he did.
FWD Tai Baribo – 5
If Damiani hadn’t scored, Baribo was right there to hopefully tap it in. Shot high over the bar on the one good chance he had. But other than that, a quiet afternoon offensively. Baribo was his usual force, however, pressing the attack, which kept the Revs off balance. His actions led to Peyton Miller’s red card; unfortunately, Baribo also received a yellow and will miss the D.C. game.
Substitutes:
(60′) Milan Iloski – 7
Iloski created two scoring chances in the 30 minutes he was on the field, leading to the one goal. Also took the most shots of any Union player. He needs to be starting.
(77′) Mikael Uhre – 5
Uhre missed a wide-open goal that could have given the Union a cushion. He did bring a sense of urgency to the match and created two scoring chances in his short time on the pitch.
(82′) Chris Donovan – (n/a)
Listen, I get the need to run the clock down. But Donovan looks like a deer in headlights out there. Confused and scared and like he is trying to not make mistakes. Which just led to mistakes.
(83’) Jeremy Rafanello – (n/a)
Rafanello did not make any mistakes in his short time on the field. He ran out the clock the way you are supposed to run out the clock.
Geiger Counter
Lorenzo Hernandez – 7
Hernandez called a good match. Yellow cards were fair, and he did not hesitate to give Miller a red (and Baribo a deserved yellow).
Player of the Match – Milan Iloski
Why wasn’t Iloski starting? He made an instant impact when he entered the match. Perfectly set up Damiani for the winning (and only) goal.
What’s Next…
The Union travel down to the nation’s capital to face D.C. United at Audi Field on Saturday, September 27. (7:30 p.m. Apple TV).”
Author: Chris Turk
A Union season ticket holder since “Day One”, Chris has also been a Chelsea supporter since the early 1990’s, though he counts perennial lower league side Leyton Orient his “local” team from time spent living in London’s East End. Chris is an avid marathoner, and when not working as a lawyer, travels the globe in search of good food, drink, and meeting fellow soccer fans.
